No Secrets

I have a friend named Moe. Moe is one of the most genuinely open, transparent people I know. Moe is open about her struggles, her challenges, her plans, her failing lesbian relationship, her thoughts – and not just to me, she’s open to  most everybody. Emily is the same way, she is even open about her goals, her dreams, her fights with her boyfriend, her future plans. Jenn, however, is closed off – she has a secret world of her struggles, dreams, plans, and hopes that few people see. In fact, most people I work with can be described as either transparent or not. Jenn is Christian. Emily and Moe are not.

Here’s the interesting thing – I wouldn’t describe any of the Christians I work with as transparent. I can’t think of a single exception. The few Christians I work with are less likely to talk about their future plans, their dreams, their desire to have kids, their relationships, and their perceived areas of growth.

Why is this? Earlier I wrote about the need to be perfect. I think that’s one reason. Christians are more likely to have another group outside of work where they can be transparent, that’s another (healthy) reason. But I know for me, there’s another reason as well.

I’m afraid that if I share my dreams and they don’t come true that I will have to defend God. Part of this is also that I’m not wholly confident that my dreams are God’s sized and shaped dreams. But, what if I believed in prayer so much and I trusted in God so much that I could confidently tell people at work about how I want to make a dent in the world? What if I told people what I was praying for, fully confident that if it didn’t come to pass I would have to defend God? First – I think it would make me pray with a lot more fervor. Second, I think it would show people how a relationship with God focuses your dreams. Third, I think most people will resonate with what God puts on our hearts.

In meetings while people are dying

I feel a growing dissatisfaction.

I believe that what we (my wife and I) currently do is good, I think it’s important, I think it’s meaningful and impactful. But, it’s just hard to sit through budget meetings while people are dying. Or any meeting (or sporting event or email chain, etc etc). I get that meetings are necessary, but faced with the reality of our world are they that important? It seems like there’s more that we can be doing.

Honestly, most days I wake up and don’t even think about human trafficking. I really believe in the importance of all people drinking clean water, but there are days it doesn’t even cross my mind. But, the more I do think about it, the more dissatisfied and restless I’m becoming.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=8927581

That’s where I am today. I texted the title of this blog to my wife last week. I’m not sure what it means, but the more I become aware of the reality of this stuff in the world, the more I feel like there’s something more we can be doing. More than that, I think there’s more we can be experiencing. I don’t think this is just a typical meeting-boredom. I think God has more in store for us. I think there’s more to this life than we’re experiencing now. I’m just not sure what it is, where it is, or how to get there.

Why arguing is our best strategy

A couple months ago I posted something (It’s Personal) about how I probably can’t (and don’t want to) give you a convincing enough argument to “make” you believe in Jesus.

I was talking to my friend Cody this week about how the gospel is presented in places like Mozambique. They ask for all the deaf people from a village to come, they pray, the deaf are healed, and then they talk about Jesus. Not surprisingly, folks put their trust in God pretty quickly when there is tangible evidence of a changed life. In places where they need God and God shows up, they don’t need a convincing argument.

For better or worse, apologetics are on the decline. More and more Christians feel like it’s complicated, they don’t feel like they have “all the answers,” they aren’t sure themselves what they believe, or they don’t want to tell someone else they are wrong.

Certainly, our best strategy (for lack of a better term) for introducing people to Jesus is the example of our changed life. But is there ample evidence in my life? I presume that about 90% of my life and lifestyle is nearly identical to those around me. If there isn’t enough personal evidence, that is if I haven’t allowed my life to be radically changed by what I know to be true, then maybe the only strategy I have left is to argue.

What if we were truly able to do the miraculous? Imagine if every Christian in your hometown had left for Haiti in the weeks after January 12. What if there were no unadoped children in your county? Imagine the impact of a church full of marriages that lived sacrificially.

What is it about our lives that will force people to stop and go, “wait a minute, something’s different.” I could be wrong, but I doubt that’s going to happen with 10% giving, once a week bible study, and prayer before dinner.

God, would you show the world through us tangible evidence of a changed life.

Making Sense of Prophecy

Emile,

We’re talking about what book to read next and you ask, “why not Revelation?” Hey, Revelation is a great book (seriously), but I’m not too sure it’s the one to start with. Or Daniel. Or Isaiah. Etc.

So, what’s the deal with prophecy? I just heard in church that 1/3 of the Bible is prophecy. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that the Bible is proven true because it has prophecy that is fulfilled. That may be great for someone who already believes in the authority of scripture, but it quickly breaks down for someone who doesn’t buy it yet. Prophecy is so outside our mainstream culture. It seems like the thing of mystics, not of rational people. Here’s a few examples of how our “proofs” for prophecy break down,

Argument: There are prophecies in the Old Testament that come true in the New Testament.

Rebuttal 1: There are prophecies in Harry Potter book 1 that come true in Harry Potter book 7. That doesn’t mean there are wizards running around in London. If I think the Bible’s made up, it doesn’t take much of a writer to make it concur with itself.

Rebuttal 2: Aren’t most of those prophecies pretty open to interpretation? And, aren’t there parts of scripture that do contradict each other, like Proverbs 26:4 and 26:5? (silly example, but there are certainly others)

Rebuttal 3: If I was writing the New Testament and trying to make it convincing, wouldn’t I do a good job (aka alter the story) to make sure they fulfilled what they were supposed to from the Old Testament?

Here’s my perspective. We have tried to convince you that the Bible is real because of what’s contained inside itself. I’d rather you look at what it can do outside itself. Emile, instead of reading the Bible because it’s full of facts, why not read it because it’s compelling? Read it because it is rich, because it is a great story! Read it because it can be life-changing.

Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Making Sense of the 66

Dear Emile,

Today we had lunch and you told me you are interested in reading the Bible. Cover to cover. You don’t believe it’s real, but you say it’s a life goal. You asked me where to start.

I love the Bible, it’s arguably my favorite book. It’s rich, captivating, and I believe it’s inspired. But what do I tell you about it? Sometimes trying to explain the Bible feels like trying to explain love. It’s complicated, it’s personal, and it’s hard to say that it does for me what it will do for you. The Bible has some pretty controversial (you might call them ridiculous) ideas. The earth was created in 7 days. Being gay is an abomination. Men should be the leader of the home. One man (who was also God) can pay for everyone else’s sin.

I think most peoples’ hangup (certainly yours) is that the Bible is viewed like an encyclopedia. Or software for a robot. Today you laughed out loud at the idea that there are different translations, interpretations, and versions. I told you about The Message and you looked at me like I was crazy. I tried to explain Codex Sinaiticus (mistake) and you looked confused. In your opinion, the Bible is just one perspective of many that are right. How do I talk about “facts” and “proofs” with you? What about prophecy? What about Jesus as a historical figure? Or historical context? Should I just shut up and hand you an NIV? The next few posts, I’m going to write about some specific Bible-related questions: infallibility, creation, prophecy, Jesus, etc etc. I hope I’m not too far off track.

(p.s. whatever happens, I think it’s pretty sweet that God guides our conversation to bring up stuff like this naturally)

Compromise II

  Dear Ryana,

Today I walked into a conversation you and two others were having about homosexuality. I assumed this day would come and, of course, I did not feel prepared for it. You self-identify as Christian, you say you grew up that way. Today you were open in saying you think it’s ridiculous that some people believe homosexuality is wrong. Then you asked me what I believe.

Gulp. We work in higher education, currently one of the most accepting and open environments in the US. To even question the validity of same-sex marriage feels like it can be career ending. Two of your peers and two of my co-workers are openly gay, so in the name of acceptance and relationship building, I immediately feel torn. I respond with a question, “what do you think the Bible says?”

She says, “I don’t know what it says, it’s old and I’m not sure it matters. Why, what does it say?”

“Well, I think the Bible is very clear about a few things. It’s clear there’s a God who wants relationship with all of us. I think God created sex and is just an interested in my sexuality as he is in yours or David’s…I think Christians ought to be known by love.”

I know some folks who say, “I know we shouldn’t hate homosexuals, and should love everybody” and stop there, without ever discussing or acknowledging the issue. Obviously we should be known by love! I have some dear friends who say that scripture is unclear, and that this is such a point of contention that we ought to meet in the middle to sustain relationships. Then of course there’s the issue of historical context. I wonder if it is our job to change what the Bible says. I met with a Rabbi the other day who says, “I know a lot of people who eat pork and call themselves Jews, but they aren’t Jews.” Honestly, a lot of the time I’m not sure.

Ryana, what I said to you today is true – the most important thing is that there is a loving God. I hope we do not compromise the other things he says in an effort to be relevant, or in an effort to help God meet people our way.

Of course, it’s easy to say that until we get more pushback, or until I’m forced to say what I really think in an uncomfortable or unsafe place. I know I can only dance around the issue for so long. Though I may know the Bible better, I think you know David better. Maybe I ought to spend more time getting to know him, his heart, his life, his challenges. Maybe I should tape Romans 1 to my shirt. Either way, I don’t have it as figured out as I’d like.

Perfection

Dear Tony,

We haven’t even known each other that long and I already feel like I need to apologize to you. I was talking to our mutual friend, Lindsay, this week and I came to a humbling conclusion.

I have been trying to be known by perfection. I have tried to represent my faith and belief as one that makes you perfect, rather than one that makes you accepted. I’m sure this can be interpreted that relationship with God makes you conforming, rather than free. Tony, I wish instead of being known for perfection, we were known by being forgiven and forgiving.

What an undertaking!  It means choosing vulnerability and humility, and taking every opportunity to show my need for grace. AH, it feels so much easier to just put on the disguise of perfection! How do I do this at the work place, where we over-self-congratulate, self-promote, and where it nearly takes a committee to say we did something wrong. How do I slow down enough to show grace in an environment where we gain respect for what we do right?

I want to be known by love, but if you see my mistakes, how will Jesus ever be appealing through me?

Hurdles

Dear Alicia,

Today we did an activity where I asked you to write down, “What do you believe?” It sparked an interesting conversation. It didn’t take long to get on the subject of God, which you quickly turned to the subject of church. The greatest hurdle to you in believing is organized religion.

Organized religion has its flaws (the crusades, hypocrisy, etc.) but the biggest hangup for you was this. “I went to church with my uncle, and they stood up there and told us we should give ten percent of everything we make to the church. That’s when I knew I was done.” Alicia, it breaks my heart that you are too stubborn to see past this hurdle. I think there are much bigger issues at stake, but this is the issue you keep coming back to. One of your peers, John, told me about his philosophy professor who proposed this question, “If God is omnipotent, can God create a rock so big that God couldn’t move it?” This was a hurdle John couldn’t see over.

I think there is a misnomer that believing and practicing Christians don’t face hurdles. Perhaps it is our own pride that doesn’t share them, or just not knowing how to do so appropriately. Yesterday I tried to share my own struggles with you.

“Giving to the church is a challenge for me, especially when I don’t think it’s being used wisely.” I admit, and then continue, “but you know, part of the point of organized religion is to make a difference in the world. Did you know that if only church-going families gave only 3% of what they made, world hunger would be a thing of the past?” Unfortunately, I think all you hear is that the church doesn’t spend it’s money well.

I know that my hurdles, my doubts, and my struggles with God bring me closer to Him. That’s why I am more eager to share them with you. How do I do this appropriately? How do I share with you that the problem of starting children and a loving God still bugs me, without making you think less of Him? How can I listen to your questions (or, more honestly, your attacks) against God without getting defense and giving answers, while also helping you over the hurdle?